English artist Paul Wright and his partner, Nicola had had enough of Britain the 1990s recession and took themselves off to Italy - except that they had no work there and Paul could not speak a word of Italian! That didn't stop them diving head first into the life of their adopted village, Moltrasio, on the shore of Lake Como. They soon found work; Paul as a mural painter and Nicola in an office in Milan, Paul was recruited by the local football team and they both took part in the fabulous summer and Christmas festivals and the mangialonge - the 'long eats' where groups of locals drive off into the country to feast on the best local food and wines, all day.They gain a new neighbour, George Clooney, who gained great popularity amongst the locals, and they lose an older, very near neighbour, fashion designer Gianni Versace who brought back to rest in his native Moltrasio after he was gunned down in the USAPaul's dry sense of humour and artistic observation brings the village of Moltrasio and its inhabitants to life, and he is guaranteed to make your mouth water with his wonderful descriptions of the local foods.